The government has moved swiftly to assist families affected by the devastating landslide in Elgeyo Marakwet by relocating them to safer areas and launching a mental health support plan for survivors. The tragedy, which struck on Friday, October 31, following heavy rains, left more than 6,000 homesteads affected and over 20 people missing.
Speaking during a tree-planting exercise at Kongit Forest in Mount Elgon, Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa highlighted ongoing efforts to mitigate the disaster’s aftermath. She revealed that multiple ministries have been mobilized to offer both immediate relief and long-term restoration measures.
Barasa explained that the Ministry of Water is addressing the overflow of water into homes, while the Ministry of Agriculture is supporting families who lost their crops to the floods. The Ministry of Environment, on the other hand, is leading restoration and reforestation efforts to prevent further erosion and flooding.
“In the short term, we have moved the affected families to safe, clean, and secure areas,” said Barasa. “We have provided food, blankets, mattresses, and other essential non-food items to ensure their comfort and safety. We have also established sanitation facilities and deployed teams offering mental health and psychological support.”
The CS emphasized that the government’s intervention goes beyond emergency response, focusing on rebuilding livelihoods and restoring affected ecosystems. She urged development partners, conservation groups, and local communities to collaborate in rehabilitating the affected areas.
“This is indeed a disaster that calls for unity and collective responsibility. We are appealing to our partners to join us in restoring the environment and supporting the displaced families,” she added.
The landslide is among several weather-related disasters reported in recent weeks across Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia, and Songot regions, as heavy rainfall continues to batter parts of the Rift Valley.
